Allardyce: a Bolton fan speaks

With Sam Allardyce set to be confirmed as West Ham United's 14th full-time manager, we decided to take the opportunity to examine some of the more obvious fears regarding the former Bolton manager's tactical approach to the game.

We asked KUMB.com member Troughie, a Bolton fan who watched his team finish in the top eight of the Premier League on four successive occasions under Allardyce for his thoughts. This is what he had to say...

"I can’t help thinking that some of you are missing the point. Allardyce’s success at Bolton was not down to playing long ball football. It was the way midfield was organised that was key.

It wasn’t about bullying, or being 'physical', but denying the opposition space to play. Every player knew his job and they bought into what he wanted – excellent man manager that he is. Kevin Davies gets a lot of stick, but he sacrificed his natural game to give the boss what he required.

We were quite happy to let the likes of Spurs mess about with the ball on the half way line, but once they got into the final third there was nowhere for them to go. We beat them in the league six times on the bounce. Fancy a bit of that? Or how about Arsenal being so demoralised they were done before a ball was kicked?

Although I have read some some interesting points here on KUMB they are those of an outsider, without a real understanding of my club. The debt position was stable when Allardyce left - it’s only deteriorated since. True, he left a small and aging squad, but that was down to a chairman who thought that Sam could continue to work miracles on a miniscule transfer budget.

As for not shooting outside the box? That was a joke by Kevin Nolan, that got picked up by the press and manipulated.

Sam, a short term manager? Seven straight seasons in the Premier League, four consecutive top eight finishes, two seasons out of three qualifying for Europe. I reckon you’d like some of that short term stuff. He was also responsible for getting the new academy facilities built. Not that there has been much return for that so far, but the investment has been made.

Neither the fans, players or the owner at Newcastle got what Sam is about, but he still left with them in a higher position than they’d finished the previous season.

West Ham fans may witter on all they want about 'the West Ham Way' but the only time I’ve seen you play passing football at the Reebok was under Gianfranco Zola in his first season. You still got beat (although on that day I’m still not sure how.)

The question is, will Sam want to come to West Ham? Thanks to Newcastle he doesn’t need to work again. He’ll want a big backroom staff and a long term commitment. If he does, he’ll get you promoted. He did with us, winning fifteen games away from home on the way.

Some Bolton supporters are jaundiced against Allardyce because of the way he left. He’s not the nicest man and he has a giant ego. But that shouldn’t detract from the extraordinary job he did at the Reebok."

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